Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



H. B. & U. G. WHITEHEAD.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1910.

991,577. Patented May 9, 1911.

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APPLIGATION FILED 1350.12, 1910. Y r

' Patented May 9, 1911.

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k 6 2 3 g 5% a 7; MW z (Em/tom anism of this class which tially turning the engine nclined or beveled.

clutch ring beingnormally UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. WHITEHEAD AND CHARLES c. wnrrnnmn, or MEMPHIS, rnnivnssnn- STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '9, 1911.

Application filed December 12, 1910. Serial No. 596,795.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY B. WHITE: HEAD and CHARLES G. WHITEHEAD, citizens of the United States, residing at emphis,

in the county of Shelby and State of Tonnes-- see, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanismfor" Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention is an improved starting mechanism for internal combustion engines in which a-hand crank is employed for inishaft and starting the engine in operation, the objectof our invention being to provide an improved mechin the event ofre 'verse by back firing serves to automatically disconnect the hand crank from the engine shaft so as to prevent the ing injured, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices, hereinafter described and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawingsFigure l is a side elevation of a starting mechanism constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional i'iew of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in another position. Fig. .4 is partly an end elevation, tical sectional view by the line a-a of Fig. 2.

The engine shaft is here indicated at 1. In accordance with our invention, we provide a starting shaft 2, which is in line with and s aced from the outer endof the engine s aft and is here shown as'mounted ln -a' bearing 3, which .in practice, will be fixed or secured on any suitable support,

shaft may be rotated. The starting shaft is provided at its inner end with a,

clutch head 5, provided onits outer side with clutchteeth 6, each of which hasits front side, 7, straight, and its rear side 8 9 is mounted on the periphery of the clutch head 5, and the said clutch ring is here shown as provided on its. inner side. with a hub web 10 which has 'its bearing-on 'theina ner portion of the starting shaft 2, the freeto turn on the clutch head 5, and on the inner end por- -cu'red to the shaft by ring rotation of the engine shaft occasioned operator from beopposite side with and partly a ver-- on the plane indicated A 'loclnng -clutch ring tion of the starting shaft. A clutch element 1] is here shown as sleeve 12 fitted on the but spaced from the clutch-head 5 and sea cross pin 13, a lockouter end of 'the said ing annulus 14: at the v and provided with oppositely comprising a tubular. shaft2 at a point nearbeveled faces 15, 16 and an-annulus 17 at the inner end of the said sleeve, which annulus is provided with clutch teeth 18, each of which has a straight front face or shoulder 19 at right angles to the said annulus or .clutch element, and an inclined rear face.

It will be seen that the clutch element -11 is locked to the shaft 2 for rotation therewith. The clutch ring 9 is provided onthe 'side opposed to the clutch element 11 with clutch teeth 21 which-correspond in size and shape with the'teeth 18 of the clutch element 11, and the said clutch ring is provided on the clutch teeth 22 each of which has its front and rear sides oppositely inclined or beveled as at 22, 23, and converging outwardly. The clutch ring 9 while mally. held with its clutch teeth 21 in engaged position with reference to the clutch free to turn on t-he starting shaft 2 is norteeth 18.0f the clutch element 11 by means of a spring 24 which is disposed in the space between the hub member of the clutch ring 9 and the clutch head 5, one end of the said s rin bein seated in a recess with which the said clutch head 5 isproVided."

A guide pin 26 has its major portion dis-' posed in a bore in the inner end of the starting shaft'2, the said guide pin being secured to the said shaft .for rotation therewith by the cross pin 13, and the inner end portion of the guide pin projects from the clutch head 5 and has a tapered point 27 adapted to facilitate engagement of the said guide pin with a bore or socket 28 in the end of theengine shaft 1. The engine shaft is provided at its-outer end with a annular concentrically disposed clutch elements 29, 30,- which are here shown as secured to the engine shaft and to'each other, by means of across pin 31, which extends through the said clutch elements and also girough the engine shaft.- The inner clutch pair ofouter ement 29 which is disposed opposite the straight rear face 33, and an inclined.

' engine shaft.

secured thereto by a bolt 37 and provided ,end of the spring bearing against an adjustto hold the shaft 2 against casual displacemay be employed for this purpose.

which is opposed to the clutch ring 9, is provided with clutch teeth which correspond with the teeth 22 of said clutch ring and the front and rear sides of which are inclined as shown. The depth of the teeth of the clutch ring of the clutch element 11, and clutch element 30 is only about half that of the coacting clutch teeth 6, of the clutch head 5, and 32 of clutch element 29.

On the bearing 3 we show a bracket 36,

with a radial bore 88 open at its inner end, and in which bore is a sliclable cylindrical stop 39 provided with an inverted conical or tapered point 40 which mayengage either the face 15 or the face 16 of the locking annulus 14. The said stop 39 is provided with a bore 41 open at its inner end in which is located a spring 42, one end of which bears against the head of the said stop, the other ing screwetS which operates in a threaded opening at the outer end of the bracket. A screwa i is in a threaded opening in one side of the bracket, the inner end of the said screw engaging a groove 45 in one side of the etc 39. The shaft 2 is movable longitudina y so that the clutch head 5 and clutch ring 9 may be respectively engaged with the clutch elements 29, 30, or disengaged therefrom, and the locking annulus 1 1- being movable with the said starting shaft 2, the spring actuated stop 39 by coac tion with the said locking annulus will serve ment either when its clutch elements are engaged with or disengaged from those of the We provide in connection with the clutch ring 9, means .to permit the same to rotate in the desired direction, of the rotation of the engine shaft and prevent the same from rotating in the reverse direction. Within the scope of our invention any suitable means For the purposes of this specification, we show a locking yoke 46, which is a plate substantially rectangular in form and provided with a central circular opening 47 in which the clutch ring is disposed, and is revoluble in one direction. On opposite sides of the said yoke are annular flange plates 48 which bear against opposite sides of the peripheral portion of the clutch ring 9, and the said yokeiis provided at suitable points with recesses'50, open on their inner sides, and each provided withan inclined outer side 51, which is tangential to a circle of greater diameter than and concentric with the said clutch ring. In each of these recesscs 50 is mounted a locking roller 52. It will be observed that by reason of the fact that the recesses 50, are wider at the ends toward which the clutch ring 9 turns with the engine shaft, than at the reverse ends of said recesses, the said rollers 52 are enabied i the inclined or tangential outer sides 51 of said recesses to move radially with respect to and from the said clutch ring 9 to permit said clutch ring to turn in the de sired direction of the engine shaft and that in the event the engine shaft should turn in the reverse direction, and start to rotate the ring 9 therewith, in such reverse direction, the tangential sides 51 of saidrccesses will force the rollers 52 inwardly and bind the same on the periphery of the clutch ring 9 so as to effectually lock the latter and prevent reverse rotation thereof.

The yoke a6 is pivotally mounted as at 53 between the fork arms 5 1- of an arm 55, which is radial with respect to the engine shaft, and the outer end of which is pivotally mounted as at 56, or otherwise mounted on a suitable fixed support, so as to prevent said arm 55 from turning or rotating with the engine shaft and permit the same to move laterally with respect to itself, and longitudinally with respect to the engine shaft.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Normally the clutch ring 9 has its teeth 21 engaged with the teeth 18 of the clutch element 11 by the action of the spring 24, and the starting shaft 2 is moved outwardly from the engine shaft so as to disengage the clutch head 5, and the clutch ring 9, from the clutch elements 29, 30, of the engine shaft, the stop 39 being engaged with the inner beveled face 16 of the locking annulus 14. This also disengages the guide pin 26 from the socket 28 of the engine shaft. To start the engine or crank the same,the operator by grasping the hand crank ffirst moves the starting shaft 2 in wardly so as to cause the guide pin to enter the socket 28, and engage the teeth of the clutch head 5, and clutch ring 9 with those of the clutch elements 29, 30 of the engine shaft, and cause the stop 39 to engage the outer inclined face 15 of the lockin g annulus 1i, and he then turns the shaft 2 by means of the handcrank in the direction indicated by the arrow in l, which is the required direction of rotation of the engine shaft, and by reason of the engage mcnt of the clutch elements of the starting shaft and the engine shaft, the latter is therefore turned with and by the starting shaft. Assuming that the engine shaft after being thus started rotates by the operation of the engine, in the required direction, the coacting beveled faces 8 of the teeth of the clutch head 5 and of the teeth 32 of the clutch element 29 force the clutch ring 9 out of clutched engagement with the clutch ele ment 30, and the 'teeth 6 and 32 of the clutch elements 5 and 29 out of clutched engagement with the engine shaft, and the engine shaft is free to run independently of the inclined sides of the clutch element 30 and shaft .2 in the same direction, they move the starting shaft being provided with a clutch areall simultaneous.

',-the depth of the clutch teeth 6 and'32, but

element, and provided on the other side with with those of starting shaft. If, when starting the engine shaft, the engine shaft should start to turn reversely to the required direction, by the back firing of the engine, the clutch ring 9 is instantly caught by the rollers 52 and locked against reverse rotation. The reverse angular movement of the engine shaft with reference to the clutch ring 9 then causes the inclined or cam sides of the teeth 21 and 22 of the clutch ring 9; acting' on the teeth 18 of the clutch element 11, to move the said ring 9 laterally together with the clutch head 5, the clutch element 11 and the starting shaft 2, a sufiicientdistance to cause the teeth 22 to become disengaged from the teeth 35 and clutch teeth 6, to become disengaged from clutch teeth 32. These actions The teeth 21 and 22 of the clutch element 9 are only about half as the'teeth 21 and 22 both act to move the clutch head 5 a suiiicient distance to disengage the teeth 6 and 32 and hence the starting shaft is prevented from turning reversely with the engine shaft and danger of injury to the operator is entirely obviated.

We claim r I 1. In combination with an engine shaft having clutch elements respectively provided with a series of concentrically disposed clutch teeth, the teeth of one series having cam faces on both front and rear sides, and those of the other series having locking faces on' one side, and cam faces on the reverse side; a starting shaft in line with and movable toward and from the engine. shaft, said head having clutch teeth which coact and correspond with those of the last named 'series of clutch teeth of the engine shaft, said starting. shaft heing also provided with a second clutch element fast thereto and having clutch teeth each of which has a locking face on one side, and a cam face on the re: verse side; a shiftable clutch element revoluble on the clutch head of the starting shaft, and also movable laterally thereon, and longitudinally with respect to the starting shaft, said shiftable clutch elementhaving clutch'teeth on one side' opposed to and 001 responding in shape with the front and rear cam sided teeth of the engine shaft clutch clutch teeth opposed to and corresponding the second clutch element of the starting shaft, means topermit the said shiftable clutch element to turn in one direction and prevent the same from turning in the reverse direction and means to turn said shaft, 7

2. In combination with an engine shaft having clutch elements, respectively provided with a series of concentrically disposed to and corresponding the second clutch element of the starting posed clutch teeth, the teeth of one series iaving cam faces on both front and rear sides, and those of the other series having locking faces on one side, and cam faces on the reverse side; a starting shaft in line with and movable toward and from the engine shaft, said starting shaft bein provided with a, clutch head having clutch teeth to coact and correspond with those of the last named series of clutch teeth of the engine shaft, said starting shaft being also provided with a second clutch element fastv thereto and having clutch teeth each of which has alocking face on one side, and a cam face on the reverse'side; a shiftable clutch element revoluble on the clutch head of the starting shaft, and also movable laterally thereon, and longitudinally with re spect. to the starting shaft, said shiftable clutch element having clutch teeth on one side opposed to and corresponding in shape with the front and rear cam sided teeth of the engine shaft clutch element, and provided on the other side with clutch teeth opposed to and corresponding with those of the second clutch element of the starting shaft, means to permit the said shiftable clutch element to turn in one direction and prevent the same from turning in the reverse direction, a spring acting to normally enga e the shiftable clutch element with the seconl clutch element of the starting shaft and meansto tnrn said shaft.

3. In combination with an engine shaft v having clutch elements respectively 'pro' vided with a series of concentrically disposed clutch teeth, the teeth of one series having cam faces on both front and rear sides, and those of the other series having locking faces on one side, and cam faces on the reverse side; a starting shaft in line with and'movable toward and from the engine shaft, said starting shaft being provided -with a clutch head having clutch teeth which coact and correspond with those of the last named series of clutchteeth of the engine shaft, said starting shaft being also provided with a second clutch edement fast thereto and having clutch teeth each of which hasa locking face on one side, and a cam face. on the reverse side; a shiftable clutch element revoluble 011 the clutch head of the starting shaft, and also movable laterally thereon, and longitudinally with respectto the starting shaft, said shiftable clutch element having clutch teeth on one side opposed to and corresponding in shape with the front and rear cam sided teeth of the engine shaft clutch element, and provided on the other side with clutch teeth opwith those of prevent the same from turning in the re verse direction, the said shafts being respecshaft.

4:. In combination with an engine shaft having clutch elements, respectively provided with a series of concentrically disposed clutch teeththe teeth of one series having cam faces on both front and rear sides, andthose'of the other series having locking faces on one side, and cam faces on the reverse side; a starting shaft in line with and movable toward and from the engine shaft, said starting shaft being providedwith a clutch head having clutch teeth which coact and correspond with those of the last named series of clutch teeth of the engine shaft, said starting shaft being also provided with a second clutch element fast thereto and having clutch teeth each of which has a locking face on one side, and a cam face on the reverse side; a shiftahle clutch element revoluble on the clutch head of the starting shaft, and also movable laterally thereon, and longitudinally with respect to the starting shaft, said shiftable clutch element having clutch teeth on one side opposed to and corresponding in shape with the front and rear cam sided teeth of the engine shaft clutch element, and provided on the other side with clutch teeth opposed to and corresponding with those 0 the second clutch element of-the starting shaft, means to permit the said shiftable clutch element to turn in one direction and prevent the same from turning in the reverse direction, means including ayieldable element to lock the starting shaft at both limits of the longitudinal movement thereof and means to turn said shaft.

5. In combi ation with an engine shaft eanavv and correspond with those of the last named, I

series of clutch teeth of the engine shaft, said starting shaft being also provided with a second clutch element fast thereto and having clutch teeth each of which has alocking face on one side and a cam face on the reverse side; a shiftable clutch element revoluble on the clutch head of the starting shaft, and also movable laterally thereon, and longitudinally with respect to the starting shaft, said shiftable clutch element having clutch teeth on one side opposed to and corresponding in shape with the front and rear cam sided teeth of the engine shaft clutchelement, and provided on the other side with clutch teeth opposed to and corresponding with those of the second clutch element of the starting shaft, means to permit the said shiftable clutch element to turn in one direction and prevent the same from turning in the reverse direction, and including a yoke element in which said shiftable clutch element is mounted to revolve in one direction, said yoke element having recesses each provided with a cam face, friction rollers in said recesses hearing be tween said cam faces, andthe periphery of said shift-able clutch element, an arm mounted for transverse movement and to which the said yoke element is pivotally connected and means to turn said shaft.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix HENRY B. WHITEHEAD. CHARLES G. WHITEHEAD.

Witnesses:

LEON i/V. Bonnr non'r, THOMAS J. BURTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents,each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. G. 

